Tricia Nagel
There's no train in this engineering class!
by Amber Olbrot
Technology ~ people using tools, resources and information to solve problems.
Technology is the foundation our country was built upon. From the earliest inventions to the use of electric motors, computers, robotics, etc., all have played their parts in our country becoming what it is today.
One thoughtful person who puts themselves out there to teach young people about technology is KACC's Pre Engineering Instructor, Mrs. Tricia Nagel. I first met Mrs. Nagel when I was in middle school, where she taught physical science and earth science. Even back then I wondered if I would be lucky to cross her path again and sure enough, here she is at the Career Center. As the director of KACC's Internship Program, I get to keep in touch with her (sometimes hearing my time sheets aren't in yet - YIKES!).
Mrs. Nagel originally hales from Bourbonnais. Her family moved to Morris, Illinois when she was a child. It wasn't until her senior year in high school when Mrs. Nagel's family moved back to Bourbonnais and she transferred to BBCHS for her final year of high school. Having spent the previous 8 years in Morris schools, it was a heartbreaker for her to transfer. Mrs. Nagel did not let this major upheaval during her senior year get ahold of her intentions and plans for getting to college. Following her graduation from BBCHS, she attended Eastern Illinois University where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary education.
Mrs. Nagel began her professional teaching career at a small, private school, Maternity BVM School in Bourbonnais where she taught middle school for seven years. Mrs. Nagel then went on to teach physical and earth science at Peotone Jr. High.
While teaching in Peotone, Mrs. Nagel went back to school and earned her Master's Degree in Administration and her Type 75 Certification. After earning her Master's, Mrs. Nagel came here to the Career Center joining the faculty three years ago. Not only did Mrs. Nagel begin to teach the Pre-Engineering class, she also assumed additional responsibilities with KACC's internship program.
In the Pre-Engineering class, Mrs. Nagel's students get to learn and work with a variety of machines and robotics utilized in the private and public business sectors
First-year students learn about the basics of electronics, programming logic, hydraulics, pneumatics, CAD and design, etc., etc. They also learn about building prototypes and about the laws of physics in order to fully understand what makes a part move in a certain way. Mrs. Nagel also takes the extra step to teach these students how to use and reuse the resources around us. In other words.....recycle, recycle, recycle.
During second year, students are challenged at greater depth, and are required to develop a project - designing and developing something utilizing what they learned during their course of study. Students' projects may even be entered into a state and potentially national competition through SkillsUSA. Two of Mrs. Nagel's students worked together to develop a working hover-craft, winning first place at State and 5th place in National SkillsUSA Contests. This year's entry to the competition will be an electric car. Amazingly, this car's electricity is derived from a Wind Recharge Station. Mrs. Nagel and her students have even been invited to make a presentation at Kankakee Community College's Sustainability Meeting.
Mrs. Nagel is one of those persons who seem as though whatever comes her way, she will be able to handle it. When asked what motivates her to continue to teach, Mrs. Nagel shared her motivation comes from wanting to be the exact opposite of one of her former teachers. In grade school, her teacher, she said, "belittled them" and "talked down to her students." Mrs. Nagel wanted to be the opposite--To be a fun, exciting, and motivational teacher. Based upon my personal experience having her as a teacher and working with her as one of the KACC interns, this is what Mrs. Nagel surely is today and it's great to have her here at KACC.
In every faculty interview I complete, I always ask what is the best quality seen in the students and what is the instructor's pet peeve.
Mrs. Nagel's one pet peeve is a student being lazy. In her class, being self-motivated and making sure things get done when they need to be done is something for which every student needs to strive ~ not only in the classroom, but also throughout life. Oftentimes, students work together in teams, just like in the workplace. Letting the team down by being lazy is a trait leading to many a careers' demise.
In Mrs. Nagel's class, her favorite quality she absolutely loves to see in her students is the way in which they work. It is a personal triumph for Mrs. Nagel to see her students utilizing what they have learned put to action in order to build something, wether it be a hover craft, a remote control car steered while watching the spy camera installed, or an incredible new design for a roller coaster - all of which are a few examples of what has come out of her classroom.
